by Alice Ward
“Perfect. You could go back to school, get your doctorate, and then you could teach at a university. You’d be able to teach what you love to people who actually want to be there… grown people who are responsible for themselves.”
I looked at him in horror. “Do you know how long it would take me to get my doctorate? And even with it, there’s no guarantee that I’ll get hired anywhere. And I don’t think I’d enjoy working with adults as much as children.”
“I’m just offering a suggestion. Our lives can be whatever we want, Emily. We can be whatever we want. If you love reading and working with kids, we’ll open a children’s bookstore. If you don’t like that idea, we’ll come up with something else. I don’t care if you suddenly decide you want to live off-grid and become a chicken farmer. If you lose your teaching license, it’ll take some time for you to figure out what comes next. But I’m in. Whatever makes you happy, consider it done.”
“A chicken farmer?” I teased and smiled, scrunching up my nose.
His eyes grew soft as he looked at me. “I was just making a point. But it’s nice to see your smile has returned.” He planted a firm kiss on my lips and then settled us against the headboard. I curled up against his chest and let out a contented sigh.
“You know, since our last fight, you’ve done a fantastic job of making sure I know you’re on my side,” I pointed out. “Thank you for that. It makes all of the uncertainties a lot easier to deal with.”
“I’m sorry I ever gave you reason to doubt that.” He kissed the top of my head and held me a little tighter. “As long as I live, I will never regret anything like I regret not speaking up for you when the reporters mobbed me outside the hospital. I will never make that mistake again. I want so badly to take you by the hand and march up and down the streets, telling everyone that I love you. And I love you so much for understanding why I can’t.”
“This is bigger than just you and me. The trickle-down effect of a disappointing playoff run or a bigger scandal just isn’t worth it. But the second that’s no longer an issue, I’m going to hold you to that little love parade you just described,” I said, my voice playful and daring.
“You can hold me to anything you’d like,” he dared back.
I rolled on top of him, letting my bathrobe fall open. He ran his hands down my bare back and I pulled his face to my chest.
“Like these?” I whispered, my voice low and sultry.
“Anything you’d like,” he whispered back. He kissed my breastbone then took my right nipple between his teeth, pinching gently while he teased me with his tongue. My phone rang just as he moved to the left.
“Don’t answer it.”
I groaned. “That’s Frank’s ringtone. I have to.” I jumped off the bed. I fumbled in my purse and retrieved my phone, but not before the call went to voicemail. I immediately redialed Frank’s number. He answered on the second ring.
“Emily, thank God. I was just leaving you a message. How quickly can you get to my office?”
My heart hammered and I pushed a shaky hand through my hair. “I can be there in half an hour. Why?”
“I got a call from Nelson. He wants us in his office at ten.”
I glanced at the bedside alarm. It was only nine, so I had plenty of time to get to the meeting. I just wasn’t sure I had enough time to psych myself up for it.
“Did the prosecutor say what this meeting is about?” I asked, looking at Ethan. The moment I said “prosecutor,” he sprang into action. He took a sweater and a rumpled pair of black slacks from my duffle bag and set up the hotel ironing board.
“He didn’t give me any specifics. But my guess is that the police have finally finished reviewing the security footage.”
I started brushing on makeup while Ethan ironed my clothes. “Frank… is there any chance I won’t be going home after this meeting?”
“Not unless they somehow have video of you pouring powdered milk into that trail mix.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, I can assure you that didn’t happen.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about. Nothing new, anyway. I’ll see you in half an hour.”
“See you then.”
I ended the call, gripped the edge of the bathroom sink, and took a deep breath. Ethan came into the room, moved behind me, and wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned back against his chest and met his eyes in the mirror.
“This will be good news,” he promised. “This is the call we’ve been waiting for.”
“I hope so. Otherwise, it will get a lot worse before it gets better.”
“I know you’re nervous. I’m nervous for you. I’ll come to the courthouse. If anyone sees us together, I’ll just say that I’m there as a concerned friend.”
I ran my hand down the front of his shirt. “That won’t work and you know it. I wish you could come with me, but you can’t miss practice. The meeting is at ten. I’ll text you as soon as it’s over.”
I swiped mascara onto my eyelashes and went back to the bedroom, where Ethan had laid my freshly ironed clothes on the bed. I dressed quickly and slipped on my black ballet flats. As Ethan perched on the edge of the mattress, I stood in front of him and turned in a full circle.
“How do I look? Like a responsible adult, or someone who’s been up all night carrying on a secret affair?”
“The first one,” he assured me, his eyes boring into me.
Blowing out a nervous breath, I reached for my purse and gave Ethan one last hug.
“This will be good news,” he assured me again. “In fact, I’m so sure of it, I’m going to arrange for a little private celebration at my place tonight. No more hiding…” The corner of his mouth lifted, the dimple coming on full display. “I’m not thrilled by this new habit of yours to call this an affair.”
I smiled and kissed him hard on the mouth. “Your place, tonight. We’ll celebrate and finish what we started before Frank called.”
“Careful…” his hands moved down my back to cup my ass, “I just might hold you to that.”
***
“Try to relax, Emily. I know the cops and the prosecutors haven’t been particularly kind to you. But you have to keep in mind that they’re just doing their jobs,” Frank reminded me.
I nodded and buckled myself into the passenger seat of his Audi. “I know. If I didn’t know me, I’d think I was guilty too. Whoever did this did a good job of setting up a circumstantial case against me. I just hope they don’t do it again.”
“The more I think about it, the more I think Walt’s right about the parents being the actual target. I’ve interviewed both of the Hollis’s. They both admitted that while they never gave you expressed permission to give Alfie snacks, they knew it was happening. Alfie loved you for it. Who knows how many people learned about your treat stash from them? And those same people would know what Alfie is and isn’t allergic to.”
“It does make a lot of sense. But it would have been a lot easier for someone like that to get to one of the kids at home,” I pointed out.
“True, but by doing it at the school, they distanced themselves from the suspect list.”
I shook my head. “I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation. I keep picturing some faceless person sitting in the dark, contemplating the most efficient way to endanger a child. It makes my stomach turn.”
“I’m right there with you. I have three kids of my own. Knowing there are monsters out in the world…” His knuckles turned white on the steering wheel. “I’m a humble servant of our justice system, but if someone put one of my kids through what the Hollis boy endured, I don’t know that I’d be able to resist taking the law into my own hands.”
“Yeah. I’m lucky Mr. Hollis has better control over his impulses than his wife does. Otherwise, Dickson would have had to take me to the ER before he booked me. I completely understand why they hate me so much. I just wish their anger was directed at the right person.”
“With any luck, we’ll have the
blame off you by lunch,” Frank said with a reassuring smile. He turned into the courthouse parking lot and pulled into an empty space near the front entrance. “Just take a deep breath and remember that you’re innocent.”
“You’re the second person who’s reminded me of that today,” I told him with a nervous grin. I unbuckled my seatbelt and slid out of the car. I smoothed my wool overcoat, held my head high and followed Frank into the courthouse. We rode an elevator to the third floor, where a painted sign on the window told us we’d reached the prosecuting attorney’s office.
The heavy glass door opened into a bland, expansive room. Florescent lights hummed overhead, and dingy blue dividers sectioned the space off into tight cubicles. I followed Frank through the maze of desks, the drab brown carpet feeling like Astroturf beneath my feet.
The door to Nelson’s office was on the far wall, and I drew a lot of disapproving glances as we made our way across the room.
Ignore them. Most of them know less about what’s going on than I do. They’ve just been reading the papers. The sensationalized version is always more fun.
Frank knocked on the hollow plywood door and we were immediately instructed to come in. Nelson was behind a wide desk that had been wedged into a room roughly the size of Ethan’s walk-in closet.
“Have a seat,” he instructed with a wave to the mismatched chairs in front of us. Frank and I squeezed in beside each other and he folded his hands on top of the desk. “I trust you both had a good holiday?”
“As good as I could expect, given the current situation,” I replied, doing my best to keep my voice warm and calm.
“You said there was something you needed to speak to us about,” Frank reminded him. “Why don’t we cut the small talk? Miss Kinkaid is anxious to hear if there have been any new developments in the investigation.”
“As a matter of fact, we came across something late last night.” Nelson turned his attention to his computer. He tapped his keyboard a few times and then rotated the monitor so all three of us could see it. A grainy black and white image of the school hallway filled the screen.
“The resolution on this is terrible. How old is the school’s security system?” Frank asked.
“Older than the school,” Nelson replied dryly. “But I hear they’ve recently upgraded.”
They must have found something. Ethan was right. This is actually good news… sort of. There’s still a monster out there somewhere.
“Miss Kinkaid, I’m going to play the video in slow motion. I’d like you to tell me if you recognize the man who enters your room,” the prosecutor directed.
I nodded, my heart racing with a blend of relief and revulsion. Nelson hit play and a few long, tension-filled moments later, a man stepped into the hallway. He was tall and wide with a thick, full beard. What I could see of his face, I didn’t recognize.
“I’ll bet you a thousand dollars that whoever this is, he’s sporting the clean shaved look these days,” Frank said.
“Only a dumbass would bet against that,” Nelson replied. “Miss Kinkaid, do you recognize this man?”
I stared at the image, willing myself to know him. But recognition wouldn’t come. Sadly, I shook my head. “No. I’ve never laid eyes on him in my life.”
“Can you enlarge the timestamp?” Frank asked, squinting at the screen.
Nelson shook his head. “Not on this screen. But this footage is from nine thirty-seven p.m. on November fourth.”
“So from that moment on, the snack drawer was a time bomb.” Fury built within my chest and I wanted to shatter the computer screen. I felt angry and violated, terrified that someone had been able to break into my life so easily. I’d spent weeks in that room, not knowing that a potentially deadly plan had already been set into motion.
Frank cleared his throat. “I’m assuming, given this new development, the charges against Miss Kinkaid will be dropped.”
Nelson sighed but didn’t meet my hopeful gaze. “Yes, but my office is reserving the right to refile at any time. My boss didn’t want to dismiss them at all. There’s still a lot of circumstantial evidence against you, Emily. But my gut tells me you’re innocent. And the DA has learned to listen to my gut.”
“This is over?” I asked in complete disbelief, emotion threatening to clog my throat.
Nelson nodded. “Unless we find our John Doe and he has evidence that he was your accomplice. That’s my boss’ theory.”
“That won’t happen,” I assured him, nearly yelling the words. My relief soon gave way to determined anger. “Mr. Nelson, this man broke into my classroom and poisoned an innocent child. I understand that you had to investigate me. But I sincerely hope you had a few people looking into other angles, at least. Please tell me this development hasn’t put your investigation back at square one.”
Nelson cringed and glanced down to the desk. Frank sat a little straighter in his chair, holding his head high.
“The Portland PD is re-interviewing the Hollis family as we speak,” Nelson confessed. “We’re looking into possible business rivals, anyone who may have it out for the family. I believe they also intend to speak to your boyfriend, Miss Kinkaid.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I lied.
“My apologies… your former boyfriend,” Nelson corrected himself.
“What does Mr. McAlister have to do with the investigation?” Frank pressed.
Nelson shrugged. “I think they want to ask if he has any jealous ex-girlfriends or anyone else who may want to get Emily out of the picture.”
“To my knowledge, there are no crazy ex-girlfriends. His parents certainly wanted me out of the picture. But that didn’t start until after I was arrested.”
Nelson raised an eyebrow and lifted a pen from his desk. “Are you sure? The Montez’s aren’t exactly known for being law-abiding citizens. If they wanted you gone, the could have created a way to justify it.”
I considered it for a moment, then shook my head. “Only a sick, psychotic person would intentionally harm a child. Victor and Martha are intimidating… formidable even. And they certainly know which strings to pull to get what they want. But I don’t think they’re demented.”
“Still, it may be an angle worth looking into,” Nelson observed.
Frank puffed out his chest like a proud robin and pulled a business card from his breast pocket. “Mr. Kinkaid and I were concerned that the investigation might hit a stall once you realized Emily was innocent. This is the name and number of the PI we hired to look into things. He’s already assembled files on several potential suspects who could be linked to the Hollis family. He’s also assembled a file on Ben Simmons, a disgruntled ex of Emily’s. He’ll be more than happy to fill you in on what he’s learned.”
Damn it, I told them Ben wouldn’t do this. I can’t believe they had him investigated.
I was taken aback by the revelation, but I did my best not to show it. I took a deep, silent breath and let it out slowly to calm myself.
Nelson’s face flushed red, but he took the card. “Thank you. I’ll pass this on to the lead detective.”
I cleared my throat. “Mr. Nelson, what does this new development mean for my teaching license?”
“You are no longer under investigation, Miss Kinkaid. The decision of whether or not you’re allowed back in a classroom lies with the school board. I imagine your principal or superintendent knows how to proceed from here.”
I nodded. “I’ll call the school as soon as we leave.”
“Is there anything else you need from us?” Frank asked, pulling at his necktie. It wasn’t particularly warm in the room, but I understood why my lawyer might be feeling a little claustrophobic.
“That’s all for now. Stay in town, Emily. And watch your back. Until the intruder is in custody and can speak to his motives, I think it’s best that you take some extra safety precautions.”
I paused at the door, pressing a hand against it to keep steady. “You think I’m in danger?”
Nels
on shrugged again. “I think given everything we’re unsure of, it’s best if you’re hyper-aware of your surroundings. The first attack was indirect, so I don’t think anyone’s going to pop out of the bushes and grab you. Just pay attention to what’s happening around you… at all times.”
“I will,” I promised. “Thank you, Mr. Nelson.”
Frank and I filed out of the office, through the cubical labyrinth, and into the hallway. I waited until we were outside to vent my frustrations.
“I can’t believe you and Walt had Ben investigated after I told you he isn’t capable of doing this,” I snapped, my hands on my hips.
Frank paused a few feet away from me and turned with an impatient glare. “Look, Emily, I know this had been incredibly stressful for you. But that doesn’t mean you get to control the investigation. If we hadn’t looked into Ben, that would be another thing on the Portland PD’s expanding to-do list. You were right. We didn’t find any reason to believe he was behind the attack. And now the PD can verify what we’ve already found and move on to more important leads.”
I instantly deflated. “Oh… well, that makes sense. I’m sorry I yelled.”
“It’s okay. Now, let’s get going. You have some calls to make.”
CHAPTER 11
I waited until I was home to start making my calls. Nelson’s final words had left me feeling on edge, and I’d learned my lesson about talking on the phone when my attention should be on something else. I did a quick scan of all the rooms to make sure nothing was out of place, my phone in hand in case I stumbled upon something suspicious. When I was satisfied that everything was in order, I sat down on the couch and dialed my uncle’s cell number. He answered on the first ring.
“Hey, kiddo. What’s going on?”
“I just left the prosecutor’s office. The police found footage of an unknown man breaking into my classroom one night in early November. The charges against me have been dropped.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear quickly as Walt let out a loud whoop. “Oh, Em! That’s fantastic news.” I could practically feel him beaming through the phone.
